Water-shedding indoor wall mounted cabinet

ABSTRACT

A wall-mounted cabinet has two components. The first, a back portion, is fixedly connected to a wall, and the second, a cover portion, is pivotally and detachably connected to the second. A vent is formed in the top of the cover portion, but in a manner that does not permit water to enter but does permit heated air generated from with the cabinet to exit. In order to accomplish this, a water-diverting plate is provided on the back portion. The plate is oriented to extend across the width of the vent at an angle, so that water entering the vent is directed towards a gap formed between the wall and the outer surface of the back portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to indoor wall mounted cabinets,and more particularly, to cabinets that have ventilation and watershedding features. Such features are particularly appropriate for use inhousing sensitive electrical and/or electro-mechanical components, suchas those frequently found in the telecommunications field.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

In many office buildings today it is common for a business entity tohave a room where sensitive network hardware, computers, telephone linesand switches are located. These rooms are usually windowless and locatedin less desirable locations of a floor plan. They can also contain fuseor breaker boxes and transformers providing electrical service to thebuilding, floor of the building, or portion of a floor. Such rooms aregenerally kept locked to thus deny access to the general workforce.

For rooms which contain principally or exclusively telecommunicationsequipment, access may be restricted to technicians employed by thecompany providing telecommunications services to the business. These areoften the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) but could be anynumber of non-Bell telecommunications providers. However, any given roommay be accessed by computer technicians working for one or more computerservice companies, telecommunications technicians working for one ormore telecommunications service providers, and/or electricians.

The ambient conditions in these rooms can vary, but in general,conditions range from heated and air conditioned, to non-heated andnon-air conditioned. Thus, while many of these “equipment” rooms mayapproximate the temperature and humidity levels of the worker workspaceof the building, it is also possible that the temperature and humiditylevels can vary approximately with outdoor ambient conditions. In anyevent, variations of temperature within the room, and differentialtemperatures between equipment, flooring, and the air, can producecondensation which, if allowed to be in contact with the equipment,could cause electrical shorts and/or other equipment failure.

It is generally known to provide wall-mounted cabinets to houseelectrical, computer and/or telecommunications equipment. The knowncabinets can serve many purposes. For example a locked cabinet, orbreaker box, can keep non-authorized personnel from accessing electricalequipment, thus avoiding accidental electrical shock. Breaker boxestypically have piano-type, vertically oriented hinges supporting a doorand no upper ventilation holes (although punch-outs used to admit wiringthrough the top will inherently provide some ventilation).

Telecommunications equipment, such as optical communications gear, willgenerate heat which needs to be ventilated simply and cost effectively.The most cost effective and simple way to vent heat is to provideperforations in the upper surface of the cabinet so that heat risingnaturally via convection escapes through the upper surface perforations.However, while allowing expulsion of heat, the perforations can alsoprovide an entrance for water, for example, from a dripping firesprinkler system, a leaking roof, or condensation forming above thecabinet. Water admitted from such sources could cause adverse effects onthe optical communications equipment.

Equipment rooms may have limited space within which technicians canwork, and thus, hinged doors or housings which are fully coupled to amain cabinet box may create problems of space. For example, apiano-hinged door may be opened to gain access to a cabinet, but thehinged door may swing into contact with other electrical equipment orconnections, thus creating a health risk to the technician.

A need exists for an equipment cabinet that allows the interior of thecabinet to ventilate heat while at the same time keeping water fromentering the interior. A solution that fulfills this need will naturallybe constrained by the important goal of maintaining the relativelyinexpensive nature of equipment cabinets that follows from a desire forsimplicity in design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the aforementioned problems by providing awall-mounted cabinet having a front surface, at least two side surfacesand a top surface collectively defining an interior space, means forfixedly mounting the cabinet in a position on but spaced from a wall, avent located at an upper portion of the cabinet, and a water-deflectingplate located in proximity to the vent, and being adapted to preventingress of water into the interior of the cabinet while permittingegress of heat from the interior of the cabinet.

The cabinet is preferably of rectangular shape and includes a frontwall, two opposite side walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall. The wallsare preferably planar, define an interior space for housing electricalcomponents, such as telecommunications equipment. The walls arepreferably solid sheet metal panels of the type that can be readilystamped, bent or otherwise shaped as desired. Other materials andforming methods can be employed to construct the cabinet.

As will be described in greater detail below, the bottom wall ispreferably associated with a stationary, wall mounting component of thecabinet, while the other walls are associated with a pivotally movablecover component. The top wall has no perforations and thus preventswater from dripping into the interior of the cabinet.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a wall-mountedcabinet having a first component adapted to be fixedly mounted on avertical interior wall, a second component detachably and pivotallyconnected to the first component, and being pivotally movable between afirst, closed position and a second, detached position, an interiorspace formed by the first and second components when disposed in thefirst, closed position, venting means for venting air from the interiorspace, and diverting means, disposed in spaced relation to the ventingmeans, for diverting water passing through the venting means away fromthe interior space.

Preferably, the first component includes a back wall having an upper endand a lower end, a bottom wall provided at the lower end of the backwall, and spacer means formed in the back wall to maintain the back wallof the first component in spaced relation to the vertical interior wall.The second component preferably includes a front wall, two opposite sidewalls and a top wall, wherein the top wall has a rearward longitudinaledge, and wherein the vent means is a gap formed between the rearwardlongitudinal edge of the top wall and the upper end of the back wall ofthe first component.

In one embodiment, the diverter means is an angled plate formed alongthe upper end of the back wall of the first component, and extendingsubstantially the length of the gap, the angled plate. The angled platemay include a proximal longitudinal edge connected to the upper end ofthe back wall of the first component, and a distal longitudinal edgeextending upwardly relative to the upper end of the back plate at anangle.

The spacer means preferably includes a plurality of protrusions formedin the back wall of the first component, each having an opening forreceiving fastener means adapted to be anchored in the vertical interiorwall. When mounted on the interior vertical wall, the protrusions form aspace between the vertical interior wall and the back wall of the firstcomponent. The space is open at the top, bottom and sides, so that ifwater enters the ventilation gap, the water is diverted towards thespace and may flow by gravity downwardly along the surface of the backplate facing the opposing surface of the vertical interior wall. Theangle of the angled plate is preferably selected to cause or facilitatethe flow of water entering the gap towards the space between the backwall of the first component and the back wall of the vertical interiorwall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wall mounted cabinet according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention, shown mounted on a wall;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the wall mounted cabinet ofFIG. 1, showing details of the preferred two-part construction of thecabinet;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first component of the wall mountedcabinet of FIGS. 1 and 2, and showing details of the mounting bracketsand water diversion plate;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the wall mounted cabinet of theprevious figures, and showing directional movement of air and waterrelative to the cabinet interior, as well as details of the cooperativeconnection between the pivot pins of the second component and themounting brackets of the first component; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the connection of the two components shownin FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a wall mounted cabinet 10 is mounted on a wall 12.The wall 12 is preferably an interior wall within a room that is may bedesignated as an equipment room to contain electrical,telecommunications, and/or computer equipment. While the cabinet 10 ispreferably located in such a room, it is also possible that the cabinetis mounted on a wall of other interior spaces that are less confined andperhaps designated for multiple uses. It is also possible that thecabinet could be located on a wall that is semi-enclosed but covered.Thus, the term “interior” could encompass building structures that arenot confined by four walls, a ceiling and a floor. The term “interior”denotes a space that is not directly exposed to the elements, althoughthe preferred location of the cabinet 10 is in an interior space definedin the traditional sense.

Moreover, the cabinet 10 of the present invention is intended to bemounted on a vertical wall, rather than horizontal or sloping walls.This requirement is to orient the air venting and water deflectingstructures that form a part of the present invention, the details ofwhich will be more fully described below.

The cabinet 10 is preferably rectangular in shape, and includes a frontwall 14, two opposite side walls 16 and 18, a bottom wall 20, and a topwall 22. The walls are preferably solid planar panels which define aninterior space for housing electrical components, such astelecommunications equipment. The walls are preferably solid sheet metalpanels of the type that can be readily stamped, bent or otherwise shapedas desired. Other materials and forming methods can be employed toconstruct the cabinet. Moreover, other shapes can be used, such ascurved, rather than planar, surfaces as would be the case if the sidewalls were rounded or curved to blend into the front wall. The depth ofthe cabinet, defined by the width of the side walls, top wall and bottomwall, can vary according to the intended end use of the cabinet;however, the depth of the illustrated embodiment is intended toaccommodate certain optical telecommunications equipment manufactured bythe assignee herein, and sold under the trademark FLASHWAVE. Thisequipment includes heat generating, sensitive electronic components thatmandate that the interior space of the cabinet should be ventilated (toexhaust heated air) but sheltered to prevent exposure to water and/ordebris, and accidental or inadvertent disturbance by unauthorizedtechnicians.

Referring to FIG. 2, the wall-mounted cabinet is preferably an assemblyof two components. The first component 24 is adapted to be fixedlymounted on a vertical interior wall, such as wall 12 shown in FIG. 1.The first component 24 preferably includes a back wall 26 having anupper end and a lower end. The bottom wall 20 of the cabinet is formedat a right angle to the back wall 26, and may be integrally formedtherewith. Thus, the bottom wall 20 and the back wall 26 may be formedby bending, stamping, or otherwise shaping a single sheet of metal.

The upper end of back wall 26 includes a pair of mounting brackets 28and 30 formed, connected or otherwise disposed at opposite sides of theback wall 26. The mounting brackets 28 and 30 may be the upper endportions of thin side panels 32 and 34, respectively, which may beintegrally formed with the back wall 26.

Other features of the first component may include structures such asmounting brackets 36, 38 and 40 which can be used to secure equipmentwithin the cabinet. Also, in a preferred embodiment of the invention,the back wall is slightly spaced from the interior vertical wall. Inorder to provide this spacing, the back wall 26 can be provided with aplurality of protrusions42, 44, 46 and 48, preferably spaced around theperiphery of the back wall 26. The protrusions extend outwardly from arear surface of the back wall 26, and may be provided with a centralbore for receiving fastening means.

When the back wall 26 is made of sheet metal, the protrusions can beeasily formed by stamping. The stamping will form an indentation on theinside surface of the back wall 26 and a correspondingly shapedprotrusion on the opposite surface of the back wall 26.

The fastening means may include threaded fasteners 50 (only one forprotrusion 44 being illustrated) with or without washers 52. Eachfastener 50 passes through the central bore of each correspondingprotrusion and engages the wall 12 either by means of threads engagingthe wall, or by a nut or other cooperative fastener device threadedlyengaging the distal end of the fastener 50. Other fasteners and fastenermeans, and spacer means can be used, including nails, screws, bolts,rivets, or virtually any other means that can fixedly couple the firstcomponent 24 to the vertical interior wall of the room with a spaceformed therebetween. The space, formed by the outer surface of thevertical interior wall and the outer surface of the back wall 26, isopen at least at the top and bottom, so that water can enter the spaceat the top and exit the space at the bottom, without entering theinterior of the cabinet.

As seen in FIG. 3, the first component has a plate 58 formed at theupper end of the back wall 26. The plate 58 functions to divert waterentering the top of the cabinet to the vertical wall, to thus flow bygravity down the wall and away from the interior of the cabinet. Theplate 58 extends outwardly relative to the back wall 26 and upwardlyrelative to the vertical interior wall. The preferred angle of the plate58 can be selected to encourage gravity flow of water along its outersurface. As illustrated, the angle is approximately 45 degrees.

The plate 58 can be easily formed by bending the upper end of the backplate at the desired angle, thus forming a plate that is integrallyformed with the back wall. However, the plate 58 could be separatelyformed and attached to the upper end of the back wall 26.

As further seen in FIG. 3, each of the mounting brackets 28 and 30includes a flat upper, horizontally oriented upper edge 60 and 62,respectively, and each upper edge has a notch 64 and 66 respectivelyformed therein. The notches and upper surfaces of the brackets play animportant role in forming the detachable, pivotal connection between thefirst component and the second component.

A second component 54 is pivotally and detachably connected to the firstcomponent 24, and includes the front wall 14 of the cabinet, the sidewalls 16 (not visible in FIG. 2) and 18, and the top wall 22. Thesewalls, in the preferred embodiment, are flat metal panels that are bent,shaped or otherwise formed of sheet metal. However, they could be formedby connecting individual panels to each other. In general, the firstcomponent 54 forms a cover that includes a substantially horizontallyoriented top wall 22 that has no perforations for venting heated airfrom an interior space within the cabinet.

The brackets 28 and 30 are used to form a pivotal and detachableconnection between the first component 24 and the second component 54,as will be described in more detail below. In general, the secondcomponent 54 is detachably and pivotally connected to the firstcomponent, and is pivotally movable between a first, closed position anda second, detached position. A feature of the invention is that thecover or second component is lifted by a technician and caused to rotateupwardly through a limited range of angular motion. Afterwards, thepivotal connection is released and the cover is separated from the firstcomponent, and can be conveniently placed in an out-of-the-way location,such as on the floor below the cabinet resting against the interior wallof the room.

When the first and second components are in the closed position, as seenin FIG. 1, an interior space is formed by, and between, the first andsecond components. This interior space is preferably ventilated to expelheat but the ventilation means does not allow entry of water. This isaccomplished according to the present invention using venting means forventing air from the interior space, and diverting means, disposed inspaced relation to the venting means, for diverting water passingthrough the venting means away from the interior space.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cabinet may include louvers 56 whichprovide a venting function, but the louvers are optional, and are notintended to form part of the present invention. Indeed, because of theventing features of the present invention, conventional louver-typevents can be avoided. The conventional louver 56 consists of a slot-likeopening having a dome or protrusion above the opening to keep water fromentering. When using stamped metal parts, the louvers 56 can beintegrally formed with the panels on which they are formed, such as thefront wall 14 and the side walls 16 and 18.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the cabinet 12 is seen mounted on the wall 10,which is preferably vertically oriented and within a room or space of abuilding designated for electrical, computer or telecommunicationsequipment. The cover component 54 includes a pair of pivot pins 68, onemounted on the interior of each of the side walls 16 and 18 in an upperportion thereof, near the top wall 22. Each pin mates respectively withnotches 64 and 66 so that in the closed position, the weight of thecabinet cover, or second component 54, is supported by the mountingbrackets 28 and 30.

In the closed position, a gap 70 is formed between the outer surface ofthe wall 10 and an inner, longitudinal edge of the top wall 22. Thewidth of the gap 70, shown by the broken lines in FIG. 4, is thus thedistance between the surface of wall 12 and the edge of the top wall 22.The length of the gap 70 corresponds to the length of the top wall 22,which is the same as the bottom wall and the front wall. The width ofthe gap 70 also corresponds to the difference between the width of theside walls 16 and 18 and the width of the top wall 22.

As shown by directional arrow “A” heated air created by heat-generatingcomponents (not shown) to be mounted in the cabinet rises and passesthrough the gap 70. The gap thus has an advantage over louvers in thatthe gap 70 is an opening above, and thus, in more direct fluidcommunication with, the heat sources.

While the gap 70 provides the advantages noted above, there wouldotherwise be a tendency for water to enter from above into the interiorof the cabinet. The plate 58 thus prevents water from entering thecabinet 12 by extending from the back wall 26 upwardly and outwardly,across the width of the gap 70 to deflect any water from entering thegap 70 to flow along the outer surface of the plate 58, towards the gap72 formed between the outer surface of the wall 12 and the outer,opposing surface of the back wall 26. The gap 72 is open at the top andbottom so that water passing through the gap by gravity can exit the gapat the bottom and not accumulate anywhere in the vicinity of thecabinet. Water flow is generally indicated by the directional arrows ofFIG. 4 pointed in the downward direction.

A latch 74 is provided at the lower end of the front wall 14 to securethe second component 54 in the closed position shown in FIG. 4. Thelatch is preferably provided with a lock to prevent unauthorized oraccidental access to the interior of the cabinet.

The detachable and pivotal connection between the two components willnow be described with reference to FIG. 5. Pivot pins 68 extendsradially inwardly from the inner surfaces of respective side walls 16and 18, and may be fixedly connected to these surfaces via any suitablemeans, including interference fit within a corresponding mounting hole,riveting, welding, or other boding means. Alternatively, there could bea single pivot rod that extends from one side wall to the other, eachopposite end being secured to the side walls. The pins 68 (or rod) restin the notches 64 and 66 as described previously to permit rotation orpivoting motion about an axis “X”.; The axis X is substantiallyhorizontally oriented, parallel to the front and back walls, andperpendicular to the side walls 16 and 18. In the closed position, thetop wall 22 is substantially parallel to the upper edges 60 and 62 ofthe mounting brackets 28 and 30. Each mounting bracket, such as bracket30 (FIG. 5) has a cut-away corner defined by an angled edge 76 whichextends between the top wall 22 and the rearward edge 78 of the sidewall 18. In the closed position, the inward, longitudinal edge 80 of thetop wall 22 is spaced from the upper edge 62 of the mounting bracket 30.

Someone seeking access to the interior of the cabinet would first unlockthe latch 74, and then pull the second component outwardly from the wall12. This pulling force will cause the second component 54 to pivotthrough an angle “P” until the longitudinal edge 80 of the top wall 22abuts the upper edge 62 of the mounting bracket 30. At this point,further pulling force causes the second component to pivot about a newpivot axis, defined as the point where the longitudinal edge 80 abutsthe upper edge 62. As the second component 54 pivots about this newpivot axis, the pivot pins 68 begin to slide upwardly along the angledsurface 68A of the respective notches 64 and 66. When the pins reach theupper edges 60 and 62, they separate from the notches and the secondcomponent can be lifted away from the first component. Once separated,the second component can be place on the floor, out of the way of theservice technician, engineer or other authorized personnel who needaccess to the interior of the cabinet.

The initial angular motion, manifest by rotation about axis X, isnecessary to separate the latch 74 from its complementary componentsmounted on the bottom wall 20, or simply to separate the bottom wallfrom the front wall. Moreover, features of the side walls 16, 18 attheir lower ends may cooperate with features of the side panels 32 and34 at their lower ends, or the bottom wall 20, to provide a snug fitwhen the two components 24 and 54 are in the closed position. Theinitial rotation or pivotal movement allows separation of thesefeatures.

To reassemble the two components, the cover component (second component54) is positioned with the lower end portion held outwardly at a slightangle from the wall as the pins 68 are place in the notches 64, 66. Oncethe pins engage the notches, the lower end of the cover component can berotated towards the wall 12 until the latch 74 is engaged.

It can thus be seen that in the closed position, the plate 58 ispositioned to deflect any water entering the gap 70 towards the gap 72and away from the interior of the cabinet. The hinge arrangementdescribed herein is intended to allow opening of a cabinet partially bypivotal movement and partially by translational movement, the latteroccurring as the cover is lifted away once the pivot pins separate fromthe notches. It is also within the scope of the invention to providedetachable connection that does not interfere with a heat emitting gapor vent and a water deflecting plate which is disposed in proximity tothe vent. This is accomplished by providing the aforementioned compoundmotion: first pivotal movement about a first pivot axis, second pivotalmovement about a second pivot axis and then translational movement oncethe complementary pivotal structures, i.e., the notches 64, 66 and thepivot pins 68, separate from each other.

From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinentart will recognize that while the invention has been described inassociation with a preferred embodiment thereof, numerous modifications,changes and substitution of equivalents may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intendedto be unlimited by the foregoing descriptions of a preferred embodimentexcept as may appear from the following claims.

1. A wall-mounted cabinet comprising: a first component adapted to befixedly mounted on a vertical interior wall; a second componentdetachably and pivotally connected to the first component, and beingpivotally movable between a first, closed position and a second,detached position; an interior space formed by the first and secondcomponents when disposed in the first, closed position; venting meansfor venting air from the interior space; diverting means, disposed inspaced relation to the venting means, for diverting water passingthrough the venting means away from the interior space.
 2. Awall-mounted cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the first componentincludes a back wall having an upper end and a lower end, a bottom wallprovided at the lower end of the back wall, and spacer means formed inthe back wall to maintain the back wall of the first component in spacedrelation to the vertical interior wall.
 3. A wall-mounted cabinetaccording to claim 2, wherein the second component includes a frontwall, two opposite side walls and a top wall, wherein the top wall has arearward longitudinal edge, and wherein the vent means is a gap formedbetween the rearward longitudinal edge of the top wall and the upper endof the back wall of the first component.
 4. A wall-mounted cabinetaccording to claim 3, wherein the diverter means is an angled plateformed along the upper end of the back wall of the first component, andextending substantially the length of the gap.
 5. A wall-mounted cabinetaccording to claim 4, wherein the angled plate includes a proximallongitudinal edge connected to the upper end of the back wall of thefirst component, and a distal longitudinal edge extending upwardlyrelative to the upper end of the back plate at an angle.
 6. Awall-mounted cabinet according to claim 5, wherein the spacer meanscomprises a plurality of protrusions formed in the back wall of thefirst component, each having an opening for receiving fastener meansadapted to be anchored in the vertical interior wall, the protrusionsforming a space between the vertical interior wall and the back wall ofthe first component.
 7. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 6,wherein the angle of the angled plate is selected to cause waterentering the gap to flow by gravity towards the space between the backwall of the first component and the back wall of the vertical interiorwall.
 8. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 1, further comprisinga latch adapted to hold the first and second components in the closedposition.
 9. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 1, furthercomprising a detachable pivot structure having a first portion disposedin either of the first and second components, and a second complementaryportion disposed in the other of the first and second components.
 10. Awall-mounted cabinet according to claim 9, wherein the first portion isa pair of mounting brackets disposed at an upper portion of the firstcomponent, and the second portion is a pair of pivot pins disposed at anupper portion of the second component.
 11. A wall-mounted cabinetaccording to claim 10, wherein each mounting bracket includes ahorizontally disposed upper edge and a notch formed in each upper edge,wherein the pivot pins are received in the notches of correspondingmounting brackets.
 12. A wall-mounted cabinet according to claim 11,wherein the second component includes a front wall, opposite side wallsand a top wall, the top wall having a rearward edge, and wherein theventing means comprises a gap formed between the rearward edge of thetop wall and a surface of the interior wall, and the second component ispivotal about a first axis associated with the pivot pins, about asecond axis corresponding to a point of contact between the rearwardedge of the top wall and the upper edges of the mounting brackets, andis translatable after pivotal motion about the second axis.
 13. Awall-mounted cabinet according to claim 12, wherein each mountingbracket includes a cut-away corner which forms an angled edge.
 14. Acabinet comprising: a back portion fixedly connectable to a wall; acover portion cooperating with the back portion to form an interiorspace and being detachably connected to the back portion; a hingestructure having a first component connected to one of the back portionand the cover portion and a second, complementary component connected tothe other of the back portion and the cover portion; a vent formed inthe cover portion; and a water-diverting plate juxtaposed the vent andbeing disposed on the back portion.
 15. A cabinet according to claim 14,wherein the hinge structure includes a pair of mounting brackets formedon opposite sides of the back portion, and a pivot pin engaging each ofthe mounting brackets.
 16. A cabinet according to claim 15, wherein eachmounting bracket includes a horizontally disposed upper edge, and anotch formed in each corresponding upper edge, and wherein each pivotpin is engaged by the notch of each corresponding mounting bracket. 17.A cabinet according to claim 15, wherein the vent comprises a gap formedbetween the cover portion and the wall.
 18. A cabinet according to claim17, wherein the water-diverting plate is formed on the back portion andextends upwardly across a width of the gap.
 19. A cabinet according toclaim 15, further comprising a spacer system for maintaining the backportion in a position spaced from the wall.
 20. A cabinet according toclaim 19, wherein the spacer system includes a plurality of protrusionsextending outwardly from a rear surface of the back portion.